Steering-wheel lock



Jan. 11 1927.

' 1. .1. HUGUES STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITNESS:

Jan. 11 1927.

L. J. HUGUES STEERING WHEEL LOCK v Filed Sept. 25 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll i1 a i 5 A a a J 5 5575 u fg'y 7 jazzzlv WITNESS: I

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES LOUIS 'J. masons, or 'rornxa, KANSAS.

STEERING-WHEEL LOCK.

Application filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,629.

This invention relates to a steering wheel lock, the general object of the invention being to provide a combination lock for the Ford type of steering wheel so that the wheel can be locked against movement when desired to protect the vehicle against theft. p

Another object of the invention is to so form the parts that the bolts and screws for Connecting the lock to the vehicle are covered by portions of the look so that thelock cannot be removed when the bolt is in projected position. i

7 Another object of theinvention is to provide a lamp on the lock so that the combination characters can be illuminated when desired. 1

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts. to be hereinafter fully described. illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In these views. 1 indicates the steering shaft, 2 the wheel which is carried thereby, 3 the column which is geared to the shaft and 3' the gear housing.

In carrying out my invention, I place acasing 4 on the housing 3. the casing being substituted for the cover of the housing and it is fastened to the housing by the screws 5. A bushing 6 is keyed to the shaft 1 by the key 7 and said bushing is provided with the keeper notches 8. This bushing is enclosed by the housing 4. The casing is provided with an extension 9 which forms a bearing for a barrel 10, the end ofthe barrel covering the screws 5, so as to prevent re moval of the screws as long as the barrel is in place. The barrel is rotatably held on the extension by the spring plunger 11 having its head engaging an annular groove 12 in the barreland by forcing said plunger inwardly by means of a pointed instrument passed through the hole 12 in the barrel to place the end of the plunger in a recess 13 in the locking bolt 14, the barrel can be removed from the extension. This can only be done, however. when the bolt is in retracted position, for when the bolt is pro.- ected, the recess 13 will be out of alignment with the plunger and thus the plunger cannot be moved. The bolt 14 passes through the bore of the extension and when projected, will engage one of the" notches 8 of the bushing and thus lockthe bushing and the shaft 1 against movement so that it will be impossible to steer the vehicle. The bolt is held in retracted position by means of a spring 15 engaging a block 16 slidably mountedon the bolt and having a pin 17 therein engaging a slot 18 in the extension for holding the block against rotary movement. The block engages the head of the bolt when forced forwardly by the spring so as to hold the head against the end of the barrel. The spring bears against a partition 19 held to the extension by the screw'20. A cam 21 on the end of the barrel engages the block to force it inwardly when the barrel is rotated to contract the spring and then the bolt is projected by means of a second spring 22 in the end of shaft 1 has been turned to position the bushing with one of its recesses 8 in alignment with the bolt. The block is provided with a recess 23 to receive the cam 21 to enable the spring 15 to expand and force the block and bolt outwardly. As will be understood, the cam 21 engages the outer face of the block to hold the block pressed inwardly against the action of the spring 15 until the recess 23 in said face comes opposite the cam which will permit the spring 15 to move the block forwardly against the end of the barrel as the cam enters the recess. The bolt is provided with the longitudinally extending groove 24: and the annular grooves 25 for cooperating with the set screws 26 which are carried by the combination rings 27 in the usual manner. Each ring is formed of two members, the outer one of which is provided with teeth 28 for receiving a projection 29 on the outer end of the screw 26, so that the combinations can be changed as desired by adjusting the outer ringwhich carries the characters on the inner ring. The characters can be observed through the Windows formed in the extension and the barrel, and these characters can be illuminated by a small electric lamp 31 which is carried by an extension on the casing 4r. A spring plunger 33 in the casing 4t engages a recess in the barrel to facilitate the proper positioning of the barrel.

The lock shown is described more in detail in an application of even date herewith, and it is therefore thought that a more detailed description of the construction and operation of the lock in this application is unnecessary.

As Will be seen, the parts are actuated by a turning movement of the barrel to cause its cam 21 to push in the block 16'to retract the spring 15'so that the spring 22 can project the bolt. The parts are locked together when the bolt is projected, so that the lock cannot be disassembled to unlock the steering mechanism.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes-in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall Within the scope or the appended claim.

Ft hat I claim is V A. oer-mutation lock comprisinga casing, an extension'on the casing, a lockingbolt slidably mounted in the extension, a barrel rotatably mounted on the extension means for operating the boltby' the movemeniwof the barrel, said bolt having longitudinally and transversely extending grooves-therein, combination rings in the extension and surrounding the bolt, each ring being formed of two members, the outer-one of'which -is-prm vided with internal teeth-anda-screw carried by the inner member and having-aprojection at its inner end for engaging the grooves in the bolt and a projection onits outer end for engagingthe teeth of the outer member.

In testimony whereot I aflixm 7 signature.

LOUIS J. GUESV 

